The tourists were attacked while they were getting off a bus to enter the museum, Essid said, noting this is the first attack there targeting tourists.

The attackers were wearing military fatigues, and when the tourists ran toward the museum to avoid the shooting, the attackers pursued them, Essid said.

Among the 17 tourists killed, the nationalities included Polish, German, Italian and Spanish, Essid said.

An additional 22 tourists and two Tunisians were injured, he said.

Radek Sikorski, speaker of Polish Parliament, said seven Polish tourists were dead and three were in in critical condition. And the Italian Foreign Ministry told ABC News that three Italians were dead and six were wounded.

Google Earth/Digital Globe

A map showing the location of the city of Tunis in Tunisia.

Google Earth/Digital Globe

A map showing the location of The National Bardo Museum and Tunisian Parliment in Tunis, Tunisia.

The country's Interior Ministry initially said earlier today that eight people had been killed but also noted that a number of hostages were also being held captive in the museum and that security forces were deployed inside it.

Carina D. Klein, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, told ABC News they cannot confirm nor deny whether Americans are among the those dead in the attack.